Toy



June 8, 1937. o. A. LANG-OS TOY- Filed April 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll-l Y Otto/flanged Patented June 8, 1937 PATENT OFFICE TOY Otto A. Langos, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 4, 1936, Serial No."l2,707

' 17 Claims.

. This invention relates to toy guns producing the sound of a gunshot by bursting paper with compressed air. Devices for producing explosive sounds in this manner are generally called paper breakers, and in many of its aspects this invention relates to paper breakers in any form.

Paper breaking devices have long been known i and, in fact, some of these are disclosed in my prior Patents Nos. 1,994,943, 1,220,242, and 1,334,867. The present invention, however, has numerous improved features, relating both to the manufacture and the operation of the gun,

One improvement from the operation standpoint is that the piston is operated on its compression stroke by a spring, thus insuring uniform action. This is made possible by another improvement, namely the cooking action by which the plunger is withdrawn and the spring compressed. According to this feature, the springis compressed by a toggle linkage which automatically changes its leverage ratio so as to compensate for the increased stiffness of the spring as it is compressed.

Another novel feature is the release mechanism which positively disconnects the cocked mechanism from the plunger bar, thereby insuring certainty of release, and at the same time withdrawing the friction of the cooking parts as a factor in the compression stroke of the plunger. The mechanism for sealing the paper strip against the outlet of the cylinder is also simplified and improved, now being operated by the trigger and the release mechanism, and pressing the paper against a rubber grommet or eyelet passing through andsecured in the outlet of the cylinder.

The paper feeding mechanism is also improved and there are numerous features of simplification in construction for facilitating manufacture, and

which aremade clear in the main description of this invention.

Various additional advantages and objects will be made apparent from the following description and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the toy gun chosen for illustration for this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, partly broken away. 1

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately through the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the gun in the cocked position.

Fig. 6 is afragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken approximately along the irregular line B----t of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the paper feeding aw.

Although this invention may take numerous forms, only one has been chosen for illustration. In this form the gun is constructed on a frame comprising two complemental stamped parts of sheet metal which, when secured together, form the grip the barrel |2,' the housing l3, and the stock or connecting portion Id.

The illustrated form includes further, a cylinder in which a piston 3| is urged into the cylinder by a spring 34, the piston being drawn out or cocked by a trigger 63 and released-at the end of the trigger stroke to compress air in said cylinder. The cylinder has an outlet 4| which is open during the cocking stroke but sealed during the compression stroke by a strip of paper.

The compression is high enough as the compresways in which this cylinder may be secured, that illustrated best in Fig. 3 is preferred on account of its simplicity. 0n opposite sides of the gun barrel l2 are formed lugs I8 which fit into the slots on the rear portion of the cylinder Hi. In this manner the cylinder is held firmly in place simply by securing the two halves of the gun frame together.

Secured withinthe housing |3is a U-shaped member having a connecting portion 2| and brackets 23. This member may be secured to onehalf of the frame by screw 22 to facilitate assembly. The brackets 23 have lugs 24 at each end extending through slots in opposite walls of the housing. These lugs are formed in stamping out themember, the lugs at the connecting ends of the brackets being stamped out from the connecting portion 2| as seen best in Fig. 3. The brackets 23 are each provided with a vertical slot through which a flat plunger bar or piston rod 26 slides. This .rod carries a pair of pins 21 which may pass through horizontal extensions of the slot in the front bracket 2| during assembly.

"At the forward end of the piston rod 26 a leather washer 3| is secured. The preferred manner of securing this washer is to secure it between a fixed washer 32 at the end of the piston rod and a washer 33 slidable on the piston rod and pressing the leather washer 3| against the fixed keep the leather flexible so that it has a. longer effective life. The washers 32 and 33, especially the latter, should be almost as large as the bore of the cylinder. V

The cylinder 16 is cup-shaped at its front end, and has an opening at its center, thus forming an angular flange 36. Secured to the flange, as by being pressed around its inner edge, is a plate 31 which at its upper end is bent to form the bracket 38, and at its lower end the stationary feeding plate 39.

A rubber grommet or eyelet 4| is secured to the flange 36 to facilitate and improve sealing of the outlet by the paper. This grommet is preferably held in place by a cupped internal ring 42, which also protects it from the piston. The ring is held in place by indentations of the cylinder wall formed by a punch applied to the outside thereof.

Slidably mounted on the gun barrel I2 is the moving assembly of the paper sealing and feeding mechanism which for the most part comprises a sheet metal slide 45 stamped to a Ushape, with the upper portion of the legs curved in cross section to fit around the barrel. The lower or front portion 46 of the legs are flat as shown, to

permit passage of a strip of paper 41 between said legs. The base or end 48 of the slide is specially shaped to press the paper against the grommet 4|, and is punched to permit the compressed air to pass through the paper to burst it. A rib 49 is preferably pressed from the leg of the slide extending both along the members 44 and 46 for the purpose of strengthening these members.

The roll of paper 5| is carried by a wire spindle 52 which may be mounted in the'bracket 38 in any suitable manner. One very simple manner of mounting is to shape the bracket with the upstanding legs 53 and 54 through which the U- I shaped wire spindle 52 is pivotally mounted. This spindle is preferably flattened. at one end of the lower leg of the U to retain it in place while the upper leg of the U resiliently engages a notch formed in the upper end of the leg 53 so that it may be swung away from said leg easily to permit replacement of the paper.

A feeding jaw 56 having teeth 51 at its end.is pivoted to the leg portion 46 and urged toward the position shown in Fig. 4 by a suitable spring 58. In this position, and especially as the slide begins to move, the teeth 51 tend to pierce the paper strip 41 and project into slots 59 in the plate 39 asseen best in Figs.- 4 and 7. As the slide 45 is drawn to the back of the gun in the manner to be described, the jaw 56 slides along the plate 39 carrying the paper strip with it. 'As the slide returns to the position as shown in Fig. 4, the teeth 66 on the plate 39 tend to engage the strip and hold it in place so that it is not moved back with jaw 56. The teeth 60 may be dull enough not to pierce the paper but merely press into it. The jaw 56 may be stamped and may have a gauge hole therein, as shown, for this purpose. This jaw is preferably pivoted by ears6l formed thereon.

The piston rod 26 is actuated to the cooked position by means of toggle links 62 which are pivoted to a trigger 63 which in turn is pivoted to the connection portion l4 as by a pin 64. The spring 66 urges the toggle link 62 upwardly and at the same time, by reaction on saidtoggle link, urges the trigger 63 forwardly. As the trigger 63 is pulled back, the toggle link is thrust against pins 21 secured in the piston rod 26 sothafthe continued movement of the trigger 63 thrusts said bar rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position a release claw 68 engages a rivet 69 extending through the frame with the result that continued movement of the trigger causes said claw to pull the toggle link 62 downwardly away from the pins 21, thereby releasing the rod 26 so that the spring 34 thrusts the pis-- ton into the cylinder I6 to compress air in said cylinder and burst the paper strip.

From the standpoint of the release mechanism,

.claw 68 could be fixed on the toggle link 62, but

it is preferred to pivot it and use an extension of this claw for actuating the paper sealing and feeding slide. To this end claw 68 is formed on 'a link 1| the front of which carries a pin 12 which extends through and slides in slots 13 in the opposite sides of stock l4 of the frame. The pin 12 may be secured by having heads formed thereon. In any event, it extendsthrough flange 14 formed on the leg portions 44 of the paper sealing slide 45. It follows that when the trigger 63 is pulled back, the link 62 not only thrusts the rod 26 rearwardly, but also draws the sealing slide, including the front plate 48, rearwardly, thereby pressing the paper strip 41 against the rubber grommet 4| as seen in Fig. 5. As a mat-' ter of fact, this contact might not be quite complete until after the claw 68 pulls the link 62 away from the pin 21, but since the users hand will be drawing on the trigger at the time, the seal will nevertheless be completed almost instantaneously thereafter.

When the trigger is released, the parts return to the position shown in Fig. 4, and when the trigger is again pulled, the full operation is repeated. The link 62 shoves the piston rod 26 back and also, through link 1|, draws the sealing plate 48 and the paper feeding jaw 55 back. The paper feeding jaw 56 moves the paper to present a fresh portion thereof adjacent the grommet forming the opening for the cylinder l6. At the end of the trigger stroke the end plate 48 seals the grommet with the paper and in a substantially simultaneous action the bar 26 is released so that the piston with its washer 3| is thrust into the cylinder to compress air behind the sealed paper. When the pressure is sufficiently high, the paper is burst with a loud explosive sound very similar to the detonation of a gun.

The assembly of the device is quite simple. The brackets 23 may first be secured to one of the frame halves by screw 22'screwing into connecting member 2 I. The trigger 63 may then be secured to this frame half by screwing a nut on one end of the pivot pin 64 which extends through said casing half. The links 62 and H would previously have been pivotally secured to each other and to the trigger 63, and the spring 66 secured in place at the same time. Next, the spring 34 is slipped over the rod 26 ofthe previously assembled piston, and this bar slid through the brackets 23. Then the cylinder l6, together? with the parts assembled thereon, may be slipped over the head of the piston and shoved into the barrel I2, compressing the spring, until the slots one ear in each pair and extending through the other being preferred.

The only remaining steps are to apply the rivet 69 and to then apply the slide assembly. This latter is done by simplyplacing said assembly in place and passing a rivet through. the holes formed in the flanges H, throughthe slots 13, and through the hole formed in the link H, and then upsetting a head on said rivet.

From the foregoing it is seen that this invention provides a toy gun with all of the noisemaking properties of cumbersome and much larger toys of this general nature heretofore used,

readily operated, and because of its size and simplicity may be produced and sold at a relatively low cost.

Although but one embodiment of my invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that I am not limited thereby, but limit my invention only by the scope of the appended I claims.

Y and firing mechanism and having a 'paper seal- I claim: e 1. A paper breaker toy gun having a stationary compression chamber with an outlet at the end thereof, a piston slidable in the chamber and a connected piston rod with the latter having stud means thereon, spring means acting onsaid piston, hand operated combination cocking and fir-' ing mechanism acting upon said stud means to cock and fire said piston all in a single continuous stroke with said piston being completely disengaged from said mechanism on the firing movement, and combination paper feeding and paper sealing means for the gun longitudinally movable thereon upon operation of the cocking ing plate portion at the end thereof .for drawing against paper positioned over the outlet from the compression chamber to seal said paper thereon. 1

2. A toy paper bursting gun for holding in one hand and operating by that hand including a framework, a cylinder fixedly secured to said framework and having an outlet at the end thereof, a piston having a piston rod and longitudinally slidable in said fixed cylinder,.bracket means secured to said framework .including a pair of longitudinally spaced apertured guide portions through .which said piston .rod slides, a spring surrounding said piston rod bearing against said piston and one of said guide portions, andoperating means acting on said rod between said brackets and at an angle thereto for operating said piston against said spring.

3. A toy gun including a frame, a cylinder secured to said frame and having an outlet, a piston having a piston rod and slidable in said, cylinder, a pair of longitudinally spaced brackets through which said piston rod slides, a spring bearing against said piston and one of said brackets, and operating means acting on said rod between said brackets and at an angle thereto for operating said piston against-said spring, said piston rod being flat with the flat wide side standing vertically and having pin means projecting from each side thereof against which said operating means bears in such manner as to be easily removed therefrom.

4. Atoy paper bursting gun having a housing and including a cylinder having a piston slidable therein, said cylinder having an opening in the compression end thereof, a spring urging said piston into said cylinder, a trigger member,means' actuated by said trigger member and ma single continuous stroke of said trigger'drawing out said piston against said spring and completelyrelea-sing said piston from said trigger, and additional means having a portion thereof on the outside of the housing, said additional means operable upon movement of said trigger member for bringing paper at said outside portion in front of said opening and sealing it against said opening.

5. A toy'gun including a stationary cylinder extending longitudinally having a piston slidable therein and having an opening in the compression.

end thereof, a spring urging said piston into said cylinder, and a lever operable in one part of its arcuate stroke to cock said piston and thereafter in the stroke causing the complete release of said piston from said lever and simultaneously therewith or immediately thereafter operable to seal said opening with a disruptable material, the release of said piston releasing therefrom the cocking force applied to said lever which force is immediately applied to seal said opening.

6. A toy gun including a stationary cylinder having a piston slidable therein and having an opening in the compression end thereof, a spring urging said pistoninto said cylinder, and a lever operable in one part. of its stroke to cock said piston and thereafter to completely release said ,piston therefrom and to release therefrom the cooking force applied to said lever, and a sealing member for sealing said opening with a disruptable material, said sealing member being operatively connected to said lever by connecting -means substantially free 'from resiliency but of such proportions as to leave said sealing member ineffective until said release at which time the cooking force'isautomatically transferred to effectuate the final sealing action.

'7. A gun having a pistol grip, a trigger lever pivoted with respect thereto, a cylinder carried by said grip and stationary thereon, a piston pressed into said cylinder by a spring, a link pivoted to said lever and moving said piston out to energize said spring during one part of its stroke and completely releasing said piston in a continuation of its stroke, and means actuated upon movement of 'said link for sealing a disruptable material across an outlet of said stationary cylinder. 7

8. In a paper breaking air pistol for holding in one hand for operation by that hand, a stationary cylinder having an outlet at its end, a piston slidable in said cylinder, 2. spring urging said piston into the cylinder, a finger trigger,

cocking means operated by said trigger and pivcompression stroke, said cocking means in releasing the piston also releasing the trigger from the restraint thereof, and the'trigger thereupon moving further instantaneously by a continued application of the force applied thereto manually in compressing the spring, and by said fur- 10. for cocking said piston and spring, and acting ther movement of the trigger rendering the seal means fully effective and holding it thus during the firing stroke of the piston.

9. A toy pistol for holding in one hand for operation by that hand including a framework, a longitudinally extending cylinder fixedly supported on said framework and having an outlet,

a piston slidable in said fixed cylinder, a spring moving said piston for compressing air in said cylinder, a trigger pivoted on said framework to release said piston completely from said trigger at a predetermined point in the triggers 0perative movement, and longitudinally moving means operated by said trigger having a portion at the end of and outside said framework for sealing said outlet with a disruptable material to be burst explosively by the compressed air, said means being effective substantially at the time of release.

10. A toy paper burster pistol for holding in one hand for operation by that one hand includirg a framework, a cylinder secured to said framework and having an outlet at the end of the framework, piston means slidable in said fixed cylinder to compress air therein, a trigger pivoted on said framework, piston moving means pivoted to said trigger and engaging said piston means on the cooking stroke for fully cocking the same with a single stroke of the trigger and effecting complete release of the piston means from the piston moving means during the completion of said single stroke, said'piston moving means bearing against a pair of projections on said piston means with one of said pair of projections extending to each side of said piston means.

11. A toy paper burster pistol for holding in one hand for operation by that hand including a framework, paper disrupting mechanism supported on said framework including a compression chamber with a piston and piston rod slidable therein, a compression spring surrounding said piston rod, and means acting in a single stroke for effecting the compression of said spring and in said single stroke acting to permit the expansion of said spring to move said piston to compress air in said chamber, said means including a trigger pivoted on said framework, a substantially U-shaped piston urging means pivoted on said trigger and positioned with one leg on one side of the piston rod and the other leg of the U-shaped means on the other side of the piston rod, with stud means on each side of the piston rod and oppositely disposed and each stud means engaged simultaneously by a piston-urging-means leg during a portion of the complete single stroke of the trigger.

12. A toy noise-making gun including a framework, a cylinder fixedly secured to said framework and having an outlet at the end thereof, a piston, a piston rod thereon longitudinally slidable in said fixed cylinder, bracket means secured to said frame-work including a pair of longitudinally spaced apertured guide portions throughwhich said piston rod slides, a spring surrounding said piston rod bearing against said piston and one of said guide portions, and operating means acting upon said rod between said brackets and at an angle thereto for operating said piston against said spring, saidpiston rod extending longitudinally and being flat with the flat wide side thereof standing vertically in the gun and having pin means projecting from each fiat side thereof against which said operating means bears to urge the piston rod in a cooking direction, with said operating means being disengageable from said pin means at a predetermined point in its operation.

13. An air pistol including a longitudinally extending airv compression chamber having a piston rod therein, piston rod guide means, a spring acting on said piston to urge it into said chamber, a projection extending to each side of said piston rod with the two projections oppositely disposed thereon, and a substantially U-shaped piston-cocking member with the closed end of the U-shaped member pivotally supported, and the open end adapted to straddle the piston rod with each leg bearing against a projection to exert the same cocking force against each projection and co-operate with said guide means to effect a substantially straight line movement of the piston rod.

14. An air pistol as defined in claim 13 including means for moving said U-shaped piston-cocking member to a predetermined point at which point the piston rod is completely disengaged from said cocking member to permit the spring to move the pistonquickly in the compression chamber to build up an air pressure therein.

15. In a toy air gun for bursting paper, a framework, an air chamber stationary thereon,

a piston movable in said chamber having a piston bursting of the paper upon compressing the air a in the air chamber.

- 16. A toy air gun for bursting paper, including a housing, a cylinder fixedly secured in the front portion of the housing having an opening at the front of the housing, a piston and piston rod slidable in said cylinder, a pivoted trigger means, actuating means from said trigger to said piston rod for cooking said piston upon movement of the trigger means, and a breech at the front portion 'of the housing slidable longitudinally with respect to the housing upon movement of the trigger means in its cocking stroke, said breech including paper feeding mechanism and a sealing portion with the latter adapted to be drawn tightly against paper lying intermediate the sealing portion and the cylinder opening, whereby said paper is burst upon the firing stroke of the piston in the fixed cylinder.

17. An air gun including a framework, a fixed compression chamber in said framework, a piston movable in said compression chamber and resilient means acting on said piston, means for cocking said piston and thereafter all in a single stroke releasing said piston for compressing air in the chamber, said means including a pivotally supported trigger comprising a plate bent to a U-shape having a series of finger receiving indentations along its bend, and a U-shaped actuating member pivotally connected t; said trigger and acting on said piston at two points on the piston for moving thelatter.

OTTO A. LAN G05. 

